Telephone index



7 Oct. 15, 1929.

c. G. JOHNSON TELEPHONE INDEX 7 Filed June 27. 1928 v; \nvenTor.

Carl Gxlo hnson A b MMk/QWMZ ATTys Y Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFMIE TELEPHONE INDEX Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to telephone indexes and has for its object to provide a novel telephone index containing index cards which can be conveniently applied to any telephone and which'will hold the cards in a convenient position for use.

' The features wherein the invention lies will be more fully hereinafter pointed out in connection with a description of a selectedembodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a telephone having my improved telephone index applied thereto;

, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 -2, Fig. 8;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2 with parts broken out and showing the telephone stand in section.

, In the drawings 1 indicates a telephone transmitter which is carried by the usual stand 2, the latter being formed with the neck portion 3 to the upper end of which the transmitter 1 is pivoted, this being the way in which telephones are usually made.

My improved telephone index comprises a card-holding member 4 which is open at the top as shown at 5 and is adapted to receive a plurality of index cards 6 that are ruled to have written thereon names and corresponding telephone numbers. These'index cards 6 are of a length to project through the open top 5 of the holder so that the upper ends of the cards are exposed above the holder. Each card will preferably be provided with a tab 7 to receive a letter of the alphabet and the tabs are so arranged and the cards of such a size that when the cards are in the holder each index tab 7 is visible. I

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the cards are formed in groups, there being one group of cards, the tabs of which have a staggered relation and bear the guide letters A, B, C, D and E and also a second group of cards longer than the cards r '01 the first group, the tabs 7 of which second group have a staggered relation and bear the guide letters F, G, H, I, and J,

and there being also a third-group of cards longer than the second group and the tabs 7 of which also have a staggered relation and 1928. Serial No. 288,737.

bearadditional guide letters, etc. By this arrangement all the tabs of the first group will be visible because of their staggered relation and the tabs of the second group will also be visible, partly because of the staggered. relation and partly because the cards are enough longer thant'l'ieciirds of the first group so that the tabs of the second group are seen over the tabs of the first group, and the tabs of the third and fourth groups being visible for the same reasons.

The card holder 4: is formed with a body portion 8 which is made of sheet metal and which has the front face 9, sides 10 and bottom 11 and also has a back 12 which is separate from the body portion, said back fitting freely between the side walls 10 and being readily removable because of its being made as a separate piece from the body 8. The cards 6 are freely received between the front 9 and back 12 but any card can be readily raised so as to expose to view the names and telephone numbers thereon as shown in Fig. 1.

Means are provided for clamping the cards in the holder, said means being constructed cs0 that it will hold any card in its raised position until the clamp is released.

The clamp comprises a elan'iping member 13 which is pivotally mounted to the body and is provided with a finger piece 1 1 by which it may be manipulated. This clamping piece 13 is shown as formed with'two trunnions 1.5 which are journalled in spring members 16, said members forming not only the bearings for the journals but also furnishing the spring pressure by which the clamping member performs it clamping operation.

Each spring member 16 in the form of a coil spring which encircles the trunnion 15, one end 17 of each spring being soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the clamping member 13 and the other end 18 being soldered or otherwise secured to the body portion 8 of the card holder.

The sides 10 of the body portion are shown as being bent inwardly to form flanges 19 and the ends 18 of the springs are rigid with these flanges. Said flanges thus not only form the support for the clamping member but they act as retaining means to retain the back 12 in the holder.

The springs 16 are so constructed that they normally tend to swing the clamping member into the full line position Fig. 2 so that its edge 20 bears against the back 12. The spring pressure of the edge 20 against the back 12 forces the latter against the cards and thus applies a clamping pressure to the cards.

If it is desired to raise any card to expose the numbers thereon to view the operator will depress the handle l-i of the clamping member, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 2, thus relieving the clamping pressure of the edge 20 against the back 12. This releasesthe clan'iping pressure on the cards and any individual card is then free to be raised into a position to expose to view the desired telephone number thereon. If the clamping member 13 is then released the springs 16 will automatically apply a clamping pressure to the back 12 and to the cards through the back, this clamping pressure being sullieicnt to hold the elevated card in its elevated position. ljVhen the card has served its purpose the operator may then depress the handle LI and relieve the clamping pressure thus allowing the card to drop.

back into its lowered position.

The card holder is secured to the neck 3 of the telephone receiver through the means of a clamp comprising two resilient arms 21, which are secured to the front 9 of the body and which are shown as provided with seat portions 22 to partially embrace the stem 3 of the telephone. These arms are shaped to present the flaring mouth 23 so that the I device can be applied to the neck 3 of the telephone receiver by simply forcing the neck through the mouth 23 and into the" seats 22. The resiliency of the arms is sufficient to re tain the card holder in the position shown in the drawings.

\Vhile I have illustrated herein a selected embodiment of the invention I do not wish to be limited to the constructional features shown.

I claim:

1. A container for a card index comprising a card holder open at the top for the reception of index cards, said holder having a body portion presenting the front, sides and bottom thereof and a back member separable from the body portion and movable toward and from the front, and a clamp carried by the body portion and arranged to apply clamping pressure to the back thereby to clamp the latter against the rear one of any index cards within the holder.

2. A container for a card index comprising a card holder open at the top for the reception of index cards, said holder having a body portion presenting the front, sides and bottom of the holder and a back member separable from the body portion and movable toward and from the front, and a spring clamp pivotally mounted on the body and adapted to apply clamping pressure to the back thereby to clamp the latter against the rear one of any index cards within the holder.

3. A container for a card index comprisinga card holder open at the top for the reception of index cards, said holder having a body portion presenting the front, sides and bottom ofthe holder and a back member separable from the body portion and movable toward and from the front, a clamping member having trunnions, and springs carried by the body of the holder and for1na coil spring surrounding each trunnion, one

end of each spring being secured to the clamping member and the other end to the body portion, said springs constituting bearings for the tru nnions and also co-operating with the clamping member to apply a clamping pressure to the rear one of any index cards within the holder.

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this specification.

CARL G. JOHNSON. 

